Maven
Well-Known Member
I went to the range to test, or rather retest some loads in my Dan Wesson .357mag. as I was not satisfied with earlier results using the same two WC designs: A Cramer button nose WC v. a RCBS flat button nose WC, both sized to .359" to suit the DW. Yesterday I fired 25 of each over 3.5gr. Clays, but didn't roll- or taper crimp them. The range was 25 yd. with a sandbag rear rest. Suffice it to say, the results were less than stellar, although I assure you it wasn't the gun.
Earlier this AM, I retested those WC, but dropped back to 3.1gr. Clays and roll crimped both the Cramers and RCBS'. The results were much better...for the Cramer, but not the RCBS. When the front portion of the former is fully filled out*, it is superbly accurate, but the RCBS WC has different requirements altogether. To wit, it can be 6 in 1" accurate @ 25 yd. (sandbagged) if it is roll crimped and, get this, seated backwards, i.e., with the flat nose toward the powder charge. Naturally I didn't do that today hoping once-fired cases, a reduced powder charge, a roll crimp, and a steady hand would win the day. Nope, no way! In short, in my Ruger BH, S & W Mod. 10 (sized to .358"), and Dan Wesson, have showed me many times that backward seating of that wadcutter is better way. Did I hear the message? Most times, but not today!
*The older Cramer molds have a hold down fixture for the sprue plate, which if used, doesn't allow for proper venting of the mold, with poor fill out an all to frequent occurrence. By chance, I disabled that feature when casting today and practically eliminated the fill out problem.
Earlier this AM, I retested those WC, but dropped back to 3.1gr. Clays and roll crimped both the Cramers and RCBS'. The results were much better...for the Cramer, but not the RCBS. When the front portion of the former is fully filled out*, it is superbly accurate, but the RCBS WC has different requirements altogether. To wit, it can be 6 in 1" accurate @ 25 yd. (sandbagged) if it is roll crimped and, get this, seated backwards, i.e., with the flat nose toward the powder charge. Naturally I didn't do that today hoping once-fired cases, a reduced powder charge, a roll crimp, and a steady hand would win the day. Nope, no way! In short, in my Ruger BH, S & W Mod. 10 (sized to .358"), and Dan Wesson, have showed me many times that backward seating of that wadcutter is better way. Did I hear the message? Most times, but not today!
*The older Cramer molds have a hold down fixture for the sprue plate, which if used, doesn't allow for proper venting of the mold, with poor fill out an all to frequent occurrence. By chance, I disabled that feature when casting today and practically eliminated the fill out problem.